Penticton鈥檚 top stories of 2023

Wildfires and rock slides dominated the news

Monique Tamminga
Dec 23, 2023 9:00 AM

web1_231227-pwn-topstories2023_1 — There were 66 firefighters who responded to the Upper Park Rill wildfire in Twin Lakes, including two danger tree fallers. (BC Wildfire Service)

Many big stories dominated the news in Penticton in 2023, but the one that saw the most Western News readers was the wildfires in the Okanagan.

Sadly, this year鈥檚 wildfire season was the worst in B.C. history, with thousands evacuated in West 琉璃神社 and parts of Vernon and many homes lost in those areas. The South Okanagan had its own share of wildfires, starting with the fire that jumped the border into Osoyoos, then the Crater Creek wildfire that exploded to over 40,000 hectares followed by the Twin Lakes wildfire that caused evacuations and saw firefighters having to work in steep terrain.

The fires wreaked havoc on our tourism industry and caused the cancellation of Penticton Iron Man.

The other story that dominated the news was the two rock slides on Highway 97 in Summerland and north of Summerland. Both closed the highway in both directions for some time and the second rock slide north of Summerland happened during South Okanagan鈥檚 busy tourist summer season. It鈥檚 still a long road ahead of closures and work for the slide north of Summerland.

Here鈥檚 hoping 2024 will bring some reprieve from natural disasters.

Top 15 most viewed stories of 2023 in Penticton

1. B.C. Wildfires: Non-essential travel restricted to many Okanagan communities

2. Video: Huge dust cloud from the Summerland slide

3. Scary moments in rural Penticton end with arrests in West 琉璃神社

4. Slide in Summerland closes Highway 97

5. Okanagan wildfires - what you need to know

6. 琉璃神社 RCMP vacuum up thieves who return to the scene of the crime

7. Penticton taking over 琉璃神社 as Okanagan real estate hot spot

8. Best of the South Okanagan 2023

9. Evacuations underway for new wildfire near Twin Lakes

10. Sumac Ridge winery in Summerland closes its doors

11. Involuntary treatment needed, say Penticton Enough is Enough rally

12. Severe thunderstorm alert issued for BC Interior

13. Breaking: Crews responding to fast moving grass fire in Penticton

14: Apex Mountain resident takes picture in same spot every year for 6 years

15: 30 suits in 5 years, Okanagan contractor owes thousands of dollars

web1_231227-pwn-topstories2023_2 — The landslide in Summerland covered highway 97 with silt and sand on May 14, 2023. The highway remained closed in both directions until July. (File photo)

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.

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